Blessing Moon

Forty: The Violet Beam

"Bay!" Oslac screamed as he watched his best friend plummet from a great height. Ethan then stepped forward, lifted his hand and in a sudden flash, violet magic lit up the sky. Beanni was then held peacefully in the air. A calming breeze played with her hair as she slowly began to float down, she landed gently in Lorrus' ready arms. Oslac then watched Claudia Slànacus make her way to the head of Draoicis-Lus through the sudden chaotic movements of the dispersing crowd. They were all moving to find their loved ones among the dead. She reached Lorrus and pulled him towards the palace. Oslac started to run after them but a tight grip on his upper arm made him stop. He turned to look at Ethan and saw solemnity seated in his violet gaze.

"What are you doing?" Oslac questioned the ancient magic incarnate, struggling against his iron grip. "Let go, Ethan! Beanni needs me!"

"No, Prince. Natanstrelle needs you."

"But..."

Without saying another word, Ethan turned his focus to the many grieving civilians, wailing over the lifeless bodies of the once darkness possessed palace guards and Emerald recruits. Amongst them crouched Beanni's mother, Lorren, rocking her youngest son back and forth in her arms as her eldest cried by her side. Oslac's heart broke for them. It broke for Beanni as he played in his mind how devastated she was going to be to find out Dillan, the one she was so determined to rescue, had been taken by the darkness. Taken and torn apart just like the rest of the Emerald army. Tears streamed from his eyes and his lips trembled as the dark reality of all that was lost clawed at his mind.

"Come Prince, they all need you now," Ethan now spoke with urgency.

"What can I do?" Oslac snapped in panic. "I'm not the King, I'm not anybody!" He looked around, desperately searching the crowd. "Where is he? Where is my father? Why isn't he here?"

Ethan didn't say a word in response, he just took him by the wrist and led him through the devastation.

"Ethan, what are you doing?" Oslac questioned as he got dragged to a lone guard slumped upon the palace steps. He took a step closer and took in the man's features, it was Dìl-Dìon. The pang of hatred Oslac felt at the sight of him made him numb as he thought about how this guard betrayed him. He, of course, knew deep in his heart that it wasn't him but the darkness who tricked him and broke his arm not only once but twice. However, he couldn't help but look at him with disgust.

"Why did you bring me here?" Oslac muttered. "How is looking at a dead guard more important than helping Beanni?"

"I brought you here to show you the truth," Ethan said in that annoyingly vague way that he always liked to speak in. It made Oslac's blood boil.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry, Prince, I'm so very sorry."

"Ethan, can't you ever just talk plainly? I don't understand you!"

Ethan let out a sigh and held his hand out over the body. Violet rays streamed from his palm and engulfed Dìl-Dìon. A bright flash then revealed the truth as the possessed guard dissolved away, and there, lying dead upon the palace steps, was the king.

"No." Oslac sank to his knees. "No! Father, no!" He shook in despair, the numbness he felt only seconds ago erupting into excruciating pain. Everything he was taught in his royal lessons could not have prepared him for this. His father was taken. It was him all along, his father broke his arm, manipulated him, he took him to face Genelle - the day he found his mother. Oslac couldn't stop his thoughts from spiralling. Did he know his mother was hanging there? Did he stand idly by and watch Genelle kill her with his own hands? Did he care? Did he laugh?

"Prince Oslac," Ethan's voice dragged him back to the present. "It is time. You must take your place as the next king."

Oslac's heart leapt to his throat. He didn't feel ready. Of course he wasn't ready, not for this, he was only sixteen years old!